Jesus Meets Needs
-
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
Introduction
The reading today looks at 3 needy people who met Jesus that day. Each need was quite different. Matthew was unloved, an outcast and lonely. The Jewish official came to Jesus on behalf of someone else – his daughter. Thirdly, the woman had an incurable 12-year illness. Unloved, on behalf of another and Unwell. Today let us think about these three people who had their needs met by Jesus.
So having set the battle scene let us look at the 3 temptations - 1st Temptation.
1 Matthew’s Need
2 The Synagogue Leader’s Need
3 The Woman’s Need
Matthew’s Need
Matthew’s Need. When JC passed Mat’s tax office as he walked out of Capernium, he was already the talk of the town. He’d healed Peter’s mother-in-law, he’d healed a paralysed man, he’d cast out demons & he stilled a storm by speaking to it. How do you think Matthew felt when Jesus spoke to him? Matt wasn’t a loved person in town; he was an outcast. JC didn’t see what others saw. JC knew what Matt could become in Him. JC saw what Matt would become if given a new start. For all Matt’s faults and flaws, JC loved him and valued him as a man made in God’s image (as we all are). If you feel lonely, unloved, unvalued – Jesus is reaching out to you today.
See what effect this had on Matt after Jesus met his needs. I guess he wondered how could he bring other people into contact with my Jesus my Saviour; “I’ll have a party” (Matt 9:10). Matthew who was rich from taking taxes from people, had been transformed. Think of the people who met of Jesus that night, because of Matthew’s party.
I wonder what we can do to bring other people into contact with our Saviour Jesus Christ.
We pray for FRANC, inviting people we know to church, maybe something like Alpha, perhaps some of the social events? Matthew was changed by a simple invitation from Jesus to follow him. What can you do to introduce the people to Jesus?
The Synagogue Leader’s Need
Into the scene runs a synagogue leader and he knelt down at his feet in humility and begs JC to come to his dying daughter. Remember, he was the main man in the synagogue (gave out the duties ) and well-respected in the community. Not only that, JC was a threat to the synagogue (he spoke against the religious hypocrites etc..). He knelt at the feet of JC his pride and dignity gone. His daughter had died, and JC. Was his only hope (2 Cor 12:9 my strength is made perfect in your weakness). And the result was a miracle – his daughter raised to life.
When we teach out to JC on behalf of others - knell in awe before him, miracles happen, people’s needs are met.
The Woman’s Need
This woman had a long-term illness – 12 years. She couldn’t come openly to JC, she was unclean, wealth, dignity gone (long term illness can do that to you). JC didn’t just heal condition, he restored her dignity, spoke to her in front of the crowd to restore her ‘(called her daughter- ‘child of God’). Dave needed to be loved.
She reached out and touched JC and was made whole.
That’s all we have to do in our need, reach out and touch the Lord (Old chorus “reach out & touch the Lord as he goes by, you'll find he's not too busy to hear your heart's cry…”). Healing flows from Jesus to us. He longs to make us whole (healing (physical or psychological), forgive our sins mend your broken heart, healing a relationship). Reach out and touch the Lord as this woman did and the Lord will not fail you.
[Conclusion] Jesus alone had the power to meet the needs of the Woman and the synagogue leader. He befriend lonely Matthew and met his needs. JC has the power to turn things around, not just patch it up or sweep it under carpet - he turns lives around (peace, healing, forgiveness, reconciliation).
As Jesus meets your needs, he gives you the status of child of God. These three encounters surely point to one who can meet your needs and the needs of your FRANC. Whatever the need today – reach out to Jesus Christ. Illustration Depeche Mode v Johnny Cash: Own Personal Jesus
When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold, Through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold, He must hold me fast
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast
